This is just some information about the snakes found around the local area of Los Angeles, Malibu and typically the whole Santa Monica Mountain range. However rattlesnake info may carry over to other regions as well.

1)  The only native venomous snake that is harmful to people is the  Rattlesnake.

2) Southern California is home to 7 species of rattlesnake (Southern Pacific, Speckled, Mojave Green, Diamondback, Red Diamond, Sidewinder, and the Great Basin rattlesnake).

3) The only venomous snake that we have along the Santa Monica Mountains (Hollywood to Malibu) is the Southern Pacific Rattlesnake. 

4) Snakes come out from their hibernation dens around early March and don't return until around November.

5) The Southern Pacific Rattlesnake is sensitive to heat temps. The ideal temperature range is between 60 to 85 degrees. The snakes will be out in the daytime with these temps. Once the weather becomes 90 degrees or hotter the snakes normally go nocturnal. On hot days keep a lookout for snakes around sunset and sunrise.

6) Western Diamondbacks range tend to stop around Norco, California and expands Southeast into Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.  

7) The Mojave Green Rattlesnake likes flat, arid land like Palmdale, Lancaster, and Apple Valley. It is not typical to find these snakes in the hills.

8) Best way to I.D. the difference between a Western Diamondback, Mojave Green, and Southern Pacific Rattlesnake is:

1. Western Diamondback will have a black and white raccoon striped tail before the rattle. The black and white bands will be about equal thickness.

2. Mojave Green Rattlesnake will have a black and white coon type tail as well but the white bars will be fatter.

3. The Southern Pacific Rattlesnake won't have a coon tail and will actually stay with the brown coloration all the way to the rattle.

9) Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes typically remain silent when located (not always) while the Mojave and Diamondback get easily excited when found and start rattling.

10) Rattlesnakes are very passive reptiles that will try and avoid human contact. However if an attempt to grab the snake is made, the snake will bite.

11) According to the Department of Fish and Game, there are an estimated 800 snake bites a year in California. About 25% of those are dry, meaning no venom was injected into the victim.

12) Female rattlesnakes are very territorial, while males will travel miles looking for multiple females. 

13) Rattlesnakes take about 5 years to get to breeding size, while our non venomous snake species will be ready to breed in 2 years.

14) Rattlesnakes give live birth ranging from 2 to 25 babies.

15) Rattlesnakes give birth in August/ September.

16) I have personally witnessed female Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes tending to their young. The mother snake will go out of the den site with the babies following. She will show them around the area and then return to the den. This behavior will happen several times throughout the day. I have witnessed this going on for a few months. While many snake species will abandon their babies rattlesnakes won't and make awesome moms!     

17) Most of the rattlesnakes we work with are located in rural areas. We have removed them from Hollywood, and have even removed snakes off of Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. Our snakes have learned how to survive in residential environments.      

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